[HelpHound]

Hi,

We have just taken delivery of a new Dell XPS M1730 notebook, but before using it we were going to partition the 200 Gb HDD into our usual configuration of: -
C:\Operating System and Applications
D:\Documents
E:\Pictures
F:\Music
G:\Spare

However on checking the existing configuration in "Computer", we find that the drive is currently partitioned as: -
C:\Vista 173 Gb (161 Gb used)
D:\Recovery 9.99 Gb (5.86 Gb used)

We are now proposing the following by using the "Shrinking a Volume" and "Creating a New Simple Volume" in Windows Vista: -

C:\Shrink down to 40 Gb for existing "Vista" and future applications
D:\Create new 40 Gb volume for "Documents"
E:\Create new 40 Gb volume for "Pictures"
F:\Create new 40 Gb volume for "Music"
G:\Recovery existing 9.99 Gb
Unallocated space of approx. 30 Gb

We would obviously need to assign drive letter G:/ to replace D:/ for "Recovery" and propose to make this the first operation so that D:/ is then available for the new "Documents"?

We have used Partition Magic 8 several times for XP and W2000, but this software does not support Vista. However Vista's built in facilities appears to be simpler to use.

We have however received the following comments from an experianced contributor to the Dell Community Support Forum.

"To do what you want to do, you're going to be installing everything from the ground up. Boot the Vista DVD, delete all partitions except for the Dell diagnostics, and partition as you wish. Then reload Vista, patch fully, install your application software, and then restore any data you need from your backups."

Is this fair comment or can we procced as intended.

Any advice gratefully received.

Helphound

[Noyb]

If it were me .. I'd shrink Vista to about 50 > 60 gig ..
Then add One Data partition.
Then, I'd use Folders in the Data partition for "Documents", "Pictures", "Music" and .. etc ..
Partitions are fixed in size, wasting a lot of unused space.
Folders are flexible, more efficient and a lot easier to modify.

Have you made your Dell Recovery DVDs Yet ??

[Gulo Luseus]

As an alternative, you could always make a recovery disk. Not sure exactly how it works on your rig, but generally, at start up, there should be an option ( probably on one of the early BIOS screens) to go to recovery, or it may be iht start menu, more than likely under "Dell", or "Recovery" in th eprograms list. This will enable you to copy the recovery partition to a DVD ( I assume you have DVD writing on th elappy), and you can thern, if you wish, delete the info on the partition. This will let you delete the partition in windows, and repartition as you wish. Would also suggst that you use the 30Gb unassigned, otherwise its a waste of good space. Probably a 70 or 80 gig drive for windows, and then a slightly smaller one for docs, then music and pics as you see fit, depending on how much you have to go in there. I know I have about 22 gig of music/ video, and theres an awful lot there, so it may be a smaller partition is better. But definitely, a larger partition for Win and apps, as this is the one that will fill up quick.
Hope its useful to you

[HelpHound]

Hi Noyb,

Thank you for your response.

We particularly like the suggestion regarding the use of folders rather than partitions, we have traditionally used partitions for years believing that it was a convenient way of just selecting one item for backing up their entire contents.

Your suggestion makes this just as easy, reduces the additional risks of creating multi-partitions and as you say is far more efficient and flexible. This will be our preferred method in future.

We haven't made our recovery DVD's yet, as I only opened the box to check the notebook, switch it on and then repack it as a Christmas present for my wife.

Be assured that these disks will be the first operation made!

Helphound

[Noyb]

Glad you like my Lazy Man's approach.
Also ... One desktop shortcut gets you to your Data File Partition.

I do NOT store any Data in my C: System partition.
This keeps the system as small as possible and much easier to maintain, defrag and scan for malware.

Also .. I use Acronis True Image to make Backup/Recovery files of my C: System.
This also keeps these Backup/Recovery Data files small and convenient.
Then, I just use Copy n Paste to backup my Data as I create or collect it.

Your Dell may have two or three partitions already ... One will be the Dell Recovery Partition.
I don't think it matters where the Recovery Partition is ...
So you should be able to just Shrink the C: Vista partition ...
And add a Data partition with the available space left over.

There are several reasons why you should have the Recovery DVDs first ...
But you'll probably only need them ... If you don't have them.
Use a good quality DVD .. You only have one chance to burn the Dell Recovery DVDs.

[HelpHound]

Hi Gulo,

Thank you for your reply,

Both you and Noyb have quite rightly stressed the vital importance of making a recovery disk, would this be just copying the existing D:\Recovery partition to a DVD? In the manual it advises that removing Dell PC Restore from the hard drive permanently deletes the PC Restore utility from the computer and it can never be recalled. With it we can restore the hard drive to the operating state it was in when we purchased the computer.

We have no intention of removing it, but assume that if this D:\ partition is backed up to DVD as an insurance against any problems encountered when shrinking the C:\ partition, then when restored to whatever dedicated partition the facility should still be available.

You appear to have some serious kit, I wonder if you could advise on one other point.

We have used an ARCO internal RAID 1 system with a third caddy to rotate a backup of the entire PC to offline.

The new Microsoft Home Server software seems to cover this and more, having the ability to backup and restore remotely via the Internet.

Can you recommend hardware that can use this software, but has multiple removable drive bays similar to a NAS Server?

Helphound

[crjdriver]

One more thing you might want to consider. If your data, mp3s, etc are important to you, I would have some type of backup ie second physical drive. For a lappy this would be an external type drive.

It does not matter how many partitions/folders you have; if your disk fails you lose it all. With an external drive, you can simply install a new drive and restore the image.

[Noyb]

FWIW ...
I've removed the recovery Partition from my HP computers ... after I had them for a while.
If I try to do an OEM application recovery ... It gives me the error that it can't find the recovery Partition.
Then it asks for the recovery DVD #1 ... and reads it from there.
One might assume Dell would work the same way.

If I wanted to put the recovery Partition back in my HD ... I'd do a full HP recovery from the DVDs
Then replace the C: system partition with one of my Acronis backups.

But ... I do not recommend you do this without several methods of repair.
You can only make one set of recovery DVDs.
Being the nervous type ... I made copies, this was allowed.

[calvin-c]

Comments: Backing up a folder is no harder than backing up an entire drive-but creating one is easier. With separate drives you can be pretty much assured that everything will be backed up. You can be just as well assured that the folders you originally create will be backed up, but not as well assured about new folders unless you're pretty disciplined. (Everybody believes that *of course we'll do that*. Experience proves otherwise.)

It's very likely that the restore utility will require that the recovery partition be D: (unless, as with HP, it will also work with recovery DVD's). Yes, I'm sure that you could copy the partition to a DVD, delete it, then re-create it & restore from DVD when you want to run the restore utility-but if your system's working well enough to do that then why would you want to run the restore utility? Not that there might not be reasons, but the most common reasons for running the restore utility IMO would preclude that scenario.

I'd probably go with the folders approach and leave the recovery partition as D:-but be aware of the need to add any new root-level folders to your backup. (I'm assuming you back up documents, music, etc. separately-if not then I see little reason for your original configuration.)

[DaveA]

I agree with calvin-c and do NOT partition the drive.

[Noyb]

The exception being ... That if you have many gigs of Data stored ...
It helps to get this Data out of the C: System Partition drive and keep it as small as possible.

A reasonably small System partition is quicker to defrag, (doesn't get fragged as quickly) and scan for malware.

I'd sure hate to maintain my C: System and back it up ... If it had my 160gigs of Data in it.
It all depends on how much Data you have, or will have, stored

[calvin-c]

Yes-I might not have been clear but I do recommend partitioning the drive into two (three if you count the recovery partition). I just don't recommend partitioning it any further unless you have a specific need to do so.

Comment: I wish more programs would let you choose both where to install them & where to store their data. It's bad enough when programs store their binary data in Documents, but worse when they try to store your data under Programs. I really get tired of changing drive/directory every time I open a file in some programs, but if I don't then I end up running out of room on C:

[DaveA]

I use PerfectDisk from http://www.perfectdisk.com/products/...e_consumer.cfm and do not have issues with defrag. So the extra partition is NOT needed and all programs work and save data where I want it saved.

[calvin-c]

Originally Posted by DaveA

all programs work and save data where I want it saved.

Really? How do you accomplish that? Or do you mean they save data where you tell them to save it? Mine do that-I just get tired of telling them every time I want to retrieve the data I saved.

[DaveA]

Depends on what programs you are using, most have a "Option" or "Preference" for file(s) location. If, not, I just browse to the folder, NO big deal.

Now if you "Bury" your different files types in a LONG path, then you need to rethink your folder layout.